Method and apparatus for processing a digital data stream

Abstract

The invention provides for a method and apparatus for of processing digital data ( 10 ), comprising the steps of forming a plurality of discrete bursts of data ( 12 ) from the digital data, charging a charge storage device ( 32 ) during periods ( 14 ) between the discrete bursts of data, and subsequently discharging the charge storage device ( 32 ) during the discrete bursts of data ( 12 ) so as to provide at least part of the power required during the data bursts ( 12 ) and so as to reduce peak power requirements while allowing for the transfer of data at rates less than a minimum data rate set for data recordal/playback

1 . A method of processing digital data ( 10 ), comprising the steps of forming a plurality of discrete bursts of data ( 12 ) from the digital data, charging a charge storage device ( 32 ) during periods ( 14 ) between the discrete bursts of data, and subsequently discharging the charge storage device ( 32 ) during the discrete bursts of data ( 12 ) so as to provide at least part of the power required during the data bursts ( 12 ).  
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the discrete bursts ( 18 ) form an active period ( 16 ) and the data stream is divided into a plurality of active periods ( 16 ) separated by idle periods.  
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the charge storage device ( 32 ) is charged during the idle period.  
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed  claim 1 , wherein the charge storage device ( 38 ) comprises a capacitor.  
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the capacitor forms part of a switch-mode power supply.  
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 4  and including a charging inductor ( 26 ) and a discharging inductor ( 38 ).  
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 4  and wherein the charging and discharging is achieved by way of a common inductor through the control of appropriate switches to allow for the charging and subsequent discharging.  
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the data processing comprises data recording.  
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the data processing includes data playback.  
     
     
         10 . A method as claimed in  claim 8  and including the step of processing a digital data stream as part of an optical disk system.  
     
     
         11 . A digital data processing device including means for forming a plurality of discrete bursts of data ( 12 ) from the digital data, charge storage means ( 32 ) arranged to be charged via a power supply for the device, control means arranged to charge the charge storage device ( 32 ) during periods ( 14 ) between the discrete bursts of data ( 12 ), and subsequently to discharge the charge storage device ( 32 ) during the discrete bursts ( 1 ) of data so as to provide at least part of the power required during the data bursts( 12 ).  
     
     
         12 . A device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the means for dividing the digital data stream is arranged so as to provide a plurality of discrete data bursts as an active period, and for dividing the data stream into a plurality of such active periods divided by idle periods.  
     
     
         13 . A device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the charge storage device is charged during the idle periods.  
     
     
         14 . A device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the charge storage device includes a capacitor ( 32 ).  
     
     
         15 . A device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the charge storage means forms part of a switch mode power supply arrangement.  
     
     
         16 . A device as claimed in  claim 15  and including a charging inductor ( 26 ) and a discharging inductor ( 38 ).  
     
     
         17 . A device as claimed in  claim 15  and including a common inductor for both charging and discharging and switch means controlled for achieving the required charging and discharging through the common inductor.  
     
     
         18  A device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the device forms part of a digital data recording/playback system.